PMR Group mulls 160-MW wind power project in Quezon province

PMR Group Ltd., a major stockholder of Quezon Power Philippines Ltd. (QPPL), is looking at the feasibility of putting up a 160-megawatt (MW) wind power project in Mauban, Quezon.

PMR is currently conducting studies to determine if the proposed renewable energy project is feasible in the area.

The proposed wind project will be undertaken by PMR Power in a tie-up with US firm Intergen, which is its major partner in the commercial development of the 460-MW Quezon coal-fired power plant.

The other stakeholders in the Quezon power project are US firms Covanta and GE Capital.

The blueprint of the planned wind power project was formally presented by PMR president Daniel E. Chalmers and QPPL general manager Frank A. Thiel to Energy Secretary Raphael P. M. Lotilla during his visit last weekend at their Quezon power facility.

Based on initial plans, the proponents will be constructing wind turbines that will just be four kilometers away from the coal-fired plant. This is seen as an advantage since this will already address the problem of transmission barriers.

The QPPL project comes with a 31-kilometer dedicated transmission line, built and funded by project sponsors, that connects directly to the Luzon grid via the Tayabas substation of its offtaker, the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

The proposed installation of wind turbines will entail some 100-meter deep drilling and each unit will be installed with 20 to 30 meters gap.

The plan will also call for the setting up of anemometers, which measure wind speed in miles per hour, in both Cavinti and Cagbalete islands in Mauban’s Lamon Bay to measure the potential of the areas.

It would take roughly two years to complete the study that was started in 2003 at the Cavinti site.

Preliminary studies show that the wind quality potential in the Cagbalete area is 20 to 30 times better than that of Cavinti.

Once completed, data gathered from both sites will be evaluated by the project proponents.

The results of the studies will also serve as basis for any decision to proceed with commercial development on the project.

For wind power projects, an availability of 35 percent can already be considered profitable.